Champions Cup 2020

[Keith]

Benetton beat Lyon 25-22, 8pts for Keatley.

Great to see Bennetton get the win and great scenes at the end with the players celebrating. They really should have beaten Northampton too.

[blockhead]

We won the group btw. Officially.
well done all involved.

[Twist]

Yeah, great to be able to say that. Lets get after that top seeding now

[blockhead]

Stat Attack:
Last 3 seasons Ireland v England in the Heino pool stages
Wins: Ire 23, Eng 3 with 1 draw
When you cant respect a stat like that it's called denial.

[Angelsea Angst]

Yeah, great to be able to say that. Lets get after that top seeding now

I agree. The bet way to get to a final is to have the QF and SF both in the Aviva Stadium. But be prepared to listen to a chorus of complaints from the English teams that Leinster always play a SF in their 'home' ground.

[blockhead]

Apparently we made history as the first team to qualify for the knockouts after just four rounds.

[cormac]

Apparently we made history as the first team to qualify for the knockouts after just four rounds.

Fairly certain we've done it before.

[D4surfer]

Apparently we made history as the first team to qualify for the knockouts after just four rounds.

Fairly certain we've done it before.

Probably in the old Heineken Cup.

[Oldschool]

Apparently we made history as the first team to qualify for the knockouts after just four rounds.

If Exeter get a TBP win today they will qualify for the QFs too.

[blockhead]

Apparently we made history as the first team to qualify for the knockouts after just four rounds.

If Exeter get a TBP win today they will qualify for the QFs too.

Glasgow could still win the group even after that so no.

[Oldschool]

Apparently we made history as the first team to qualify for the knockouts after just four rounds.

If Exeter get a TBP win today they will qualify for the QFs too.

Glasgow could still win the group even after that so no.

Yeah you're right.

[blaker]

I love the Heineken Cup but I think it’s in real danger of dying out.
I live in London and the press coverage is limited. There’s match reports but little if any pre/post weekend colour.
Like any competition, many teams are heavy outsiders but, unlike many competitions, approx 50% of competitors are utterly irrelevant. Worse, many have stopped trying. Harlequins, Gloucester and Northampton all played weakened sides this week as an example. Each still had skin in the game.
There have been no surprises off the top of my head.
Sarries, Us, Racing, Toulouse, Exeter all but qualified already.
I don’t know how you turn it around but there’s an increasing sense that Ireland cares far more about it than all the other countries.

[wixfjord]

Exeter win with a TBP.
They now have 19 points, 16 tries and a points difference of +62.
They have Glasgow (a) and La Rochelle (h) to come.

We currently have 19 points with 20 tries scores and a difference of +77.
We have Lyon (h) and Treviso (a).

Their final pool game is after ours too so they'll know what they need.

Depending on how Exeter get on in Glasgow, it looks like two TBP wins for us (easier said than done, but possible) would get us through top seeds. Unless La Rochelle totally capitulate.

[cormac]

Exeter win with a TBP.
They now have 19 points, 16 tries and a points difference of +62.
They have Glasgow (a) and La Rochelle (h) to come.

We currently have 19 points with 20 tries scores and a difference of +77.
We have Lyon (h) and Treviso (a).

Their final pool game is after ours too so they'll know what they need.

Depending on how Exeter get on in Glasgow, it looks like two TBP wins for us (easier said than done, but possible) would get us through top seeds. Unless La Rochelle totally capitulate.

1st or 2nd seed is fine. Both guarantee a home semi-final should we get that far. 10 points from the next two games will guarantee that.

[blockhead]

47 points scored by Leinster guys for other teams this weekend in the Heino
-Delahunt and Copeland got the late tries for Connachts amazing comeback win
-Cooney bagged 2 tries and kicked 9 pts while O'Toole also got a try, making up 24 of Ulsters 34 pts bp win
-Keatley kicked 8pts in Benetton's win over Lyon
-MacGinty kicked 5pts for Sale today

[Dave Cahill]

47 points scored by Leinster guys for other teams this weekend in the Heino
-Delahunt and Copeland got the late tries for Connachts amazing comeback win
-Cooney bagged 2 tries and kicked 9 pts while O'Toole also got a try, making up 24 of Ulsters 34 pts bp win
-Keatley kicked 8pts in Benetton's win over Lyon
-MacGinty kicked 5pts for Sale today

Shocking that "Leinster guys" are doing so much to try to prevent Leinster winning the Champions Cup

[neiliog93]

The decline of teams who traditionally took the tournament seriously (Biarritz, Perpignan, Stade Francais, Toulon, Leicester, Wasps etc.) hasn't helped either.

[johng]

47 points scored by Leinster guys for other teams this weekend in the Heino
-Delahunt and Copeland got the late tries for Connachts amazing comeback win
-Cooney bagged 2 tries and kicked 9 pts while O'Toole also got a try, making up 24 of Ulsters 34 pts bp win
-Keatley kicked 8pts in Benetton's win over Lyon
-MacGinty kicked 5pts for Sale today

You may be mixing up your Ulster props. O'Sullivan is from Terenure. While O'Toole was born in Leinster he learned all his Rugby in Australia and Ulster. I think he left Leinster when he was 5 or 6

[blaker]

The decline of teams who traditionally took the tournament seriously (Biarritz, Perpignan, Stade Francais, Toulon, Leicester, Wasps etc.) hasn't helped either.

Good point yep. Toulon aside, those were all also very distinct and “culturally defined” teams. Brought flavour and difference to the mix.
It’s very noticeable how early Eng teams esp are throwing in under strength teams. Like, last night was good craic in places but an utter waste of everybody’s time.

[curates_egg]

47 points scored by Leinster guys for other teams this weekend in the Heino
-Delahunt and Copeland got the late tries for Connachts amazing comeback win
-Cooney bagged 2 tries and kicked 9 pts while O'Toole also got a try, making up 24 of Ulsters 34 pts bp win
-Keatley kicked 8pts in Benetton's win over Lyon
-MacGinty kicked 5pts for Sale today

You may be mixing up your Ulster props. O'Sullivan is from Terenure. While O'Toole was born in Leinster he learned all his Rugby in Australia and Ulster. I think he left Leinster when he was 5 or 6

It's also a bit of a stretch to claim MacGinty, who (beyond going to school in Blackrock) didn't come near the Leinster system as far as I know? I thought he moved to New York straight out of school?